A quite variable species. Tuber flattened-globose, to 1.5-3.0 cm across. Stems 2 or 3, 10-20 cm; leaves 2-4, biternate, blue-green. Flowers in loose racemes, clear blue-violet with long spur. V - early spring to mid-summer. Fl - April or May (in St. Petersburg) for 3-4 weeks. Fr - June. P - by fresh seed, can be self-sown. Does well in semishade, on a moist, well-drained soil. Well suited to the rock garden. Z 4. New.

Far East (Sakhalin, Kuril Islands, Kamchatka, in mainland coastal area near the Sea of Okhotsk), northern Japan, China and Korea. In forests, on grassy hills, along streams and on banks.